Welford, Northamptonshire
| Welford | |
| Northamptonshire | |
|---|---|
 Welford Marina | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SP6480 |
| Location: | 52°25’1"N, 1°3’29"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,043 (2011) |
| Post town: | Northampton |
| Postcode: | NN6 |
| Dialling code: | 01858 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | West Northamptonshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Kettering |
Welford is a village and parish in Northamptonshire, adjacent to the border with Leicestershire. It is located on the River Avon, which here forms the border between the counties. Despite its name and situation on the river, it is not known as Welford-on-Avon; that title is reserved for the village further downstream in Gloucestershire. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 1,016,[1] increasing to 1,043 at the 2011 Census.[2]
Location
It is on the main A5199 road connecting Northampton and Leicester and, being halfway between the two, was formerly an important stagecoach stop. The A5199 is known as the 'Welford Road' for much of its length. It is close to the junction of two major motor routes - the M1 motorway and the M6 motorway - and is 1½ miles north of Junction 1 of the A14, which connects that junction with the east of the country.
History
In mediæval times its Premonstratensian Abbey moved to Sulby some two miles to the east and Welford lost its market charter which was sold to West Haddon. There is clear evidence that Welford shrank considerably during the mediæval period and it is notable that three of its neighbouring parishes — Elkington, Stanford-on-Avon and Sulby — are almost entirely depopulated.
A silver cup dating from the sixteenth century that was found in the village is in the British Museum.[3]
The history of the parish has been the subject of two books:
Notable buildings
The Historic England website contains a total of 38 entries for listed buildings in the parish of Welford.[6] These are all Grade II, apart from St Mary's Church, which is Grade II*. They include:
- St Mary's Church, Church Lane
- The Talbot, High Street
- Manor House, West Street
- Welford Congregational Church, West End[7]
Facilities
It is served by a short arm from the Grand Union Canal and has two marinas. The Jurassic Way long-distance footpath passes through the village on a SW/NE axis; although it officially makes its way through the fields to the east of the village, many walkers prefer to walk along the High Street to make use of the village's facilities.
Welford has a village shop and post office, a hairdresser, a primary school, a garage, a coffee & gift shop and two public houses.
Other amenities include a village hall, a sports field which is home to Welford Victoria F.C., a youth centre and a pocket park. There is also a spinney, which was a gravel quarry in the 19th century. To the North East of the village lie Welford Reservoir and Sulby Reservoir.
References
- ↑ Office for National Statistics: Welford CP: Parish headcounts. Retrieved 28 November 2009
- ↑ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighboourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11130249&c=Welford&d=16&e=62&g=6451055&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1468317062686&enc=1. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ British Museum Collection
- ↑ Welford: Portrait of a Northamptonshire Village. Market Harborough: The Welford Village Appraisal Steering Group. 2000.
- ↑ Crowther, Barry, ed (2001). Welford: The Legacy 1856 to 1980. Market Harborough: Matador.
- ↑ "Historic England – The List". https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
- ↑ "Congregational Federation". http://www.congregational.org.uk/find-a-church/church-finder/126/welford. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Welford, Northamptonshire) |